Track-laying machine



5 Shee"cs-Sheet 1 llll'llllllllll lll'l W I u! I) .l V mmim w A m mm May 8, 1923.

Filed Oct. 11, 1921 May 8, 1923. 1,454,176 J. R. MCGIFFERT TRACK LAYING MACHINE Filed Oct. 11, 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 2 in Fig. 3.

Patented May 8, 1923.

UNETJED .JOHN R. MCGIFFERT, or DULUTH, MINNESOTA, AssIGNon 'ro CLYDE IRON WoRKs, or DULUTH, MINNESOTA, ,A CORPORATION or MAINE.

TnAoK-LAYING MACHINE.

Application filed oetober 11, 1921. Serial No. 507,020.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN R. MGGIFFERT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Duluth, county of St. Louis, and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement. in Track-Laying Machines, of which the following is a speci fication, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention relates, as indi 'cated, to an improved track-laying machine, and is more particularly directed to an improved type of machine to be built or mount ed upona flat-car and then drawn over the track as it is laid or taken up. One of the principal objects of the present invention is the provision of a simple durable mechanism of. this type, which will facilitate the laying of track without being so expensive either to build or to maintain as to. lose the benefit secured by the increased speed made possible by the use of machinery for this purpose. To the accomplishment of the foregoing andrelated ends, said invention, their. consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine: Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a front elevation; F ig. {l is a side view of a modification ofmy machine; and Fig. 5 is a plan'view of the same.

My improved machine consists of a framework 1. which has spaced parallel beams at either end which are adapted to be laid transversely of acar 2 and securely fastened thereto these beams-serving not only as the :bottom members of the framework, but also as runners or skids forthe movement of the rails-3 thereover,*these rails being piled on the bottom of the framework. as indicated & Secured to the transverse end members of-the frameeare longitudinal side members tanduprights 5, whichv are inclined toward each other longitudinally of the machine, but are I substantial y parallel from an end View, as indicated in Fig. 3, in order to permit free movement through the framework of the ties, as will .be explained more fully hereinafter. Suitable braces 6 connect the members 5 with the longitudinal members 4.

Mounted in an elevated position upon the frame members 5 is a platform 7, consisting of various beams 7 and 8 and braces 9, upon which is mounted a two-drum reversing hoisting engine 10, which is provided with drums l1 and 12, the purpose of which will be explained presently, and which are operated by steam cylinders'13,-to which steam may be supplied from an engine connected to the car through any suitable connections. Slightly above the level of the platform 7' the frame members 5 are inclined toward each other t form a pyramidal superstructure over the platform, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, at the apex of which are mounted three sheaves 15, 15 and 15 for receiving the cables from the engine.

Mounted beneath the platform 7, and rigidly secured thereto, is a trackway, con sisting of two channels 16, their flanges extending outwardly. which channels are secured in a spaced parallel position, this,

trackway extending longitudinally over the center of the car and framework. Thisboom or trackway is supported and braced by. means of various rods 17. 18 and 19 and 17'. 18 and 19. extending from the apexof the pyramidal upper framework, ,and is braced. against lateral movement by braces 20, which extend from the sides of the framework, as shown in Fig. 2.

A carriage 21 is movably mounted on the channels 16 for movement from end to end of these channels which constitute a trackway and is provided with a block 22. which in turn has suitable clamps 23 for picking up .one of the rails 24. or a number of ties 25. as is shown in Fig. 3. The drum 12 carries the hoisting cab e 26. which passes up over sheave 15. then over sheave 26 mounted on a brace 27, over a. sheave 28 at one end of the boom. and then over the she-ave 28 in the trolley carriage 21 down. through the block 22, then up over the sheave -28 'and then to the rear endof the'traclc' end of :nch piece being drum ll at opposite ends of the drum respectively. The two lines are then spooled evenly around the drum in opposite directime until they meet in the center so that when the drum revolved one rope is unwinding, while the other is winding up, and they are in this way automatically spooled evenly since there is always just sutlicient space for one coil of the winding cable to take the place of one coil of the unwinding cable. These two trailic lines 30 and 31 lead from the drum 11 to the sheaves l5 and 15 respectively at the peak of the upper framework, and from there to opposite ends of the boom, over the sheaves 2i. mounted at each end of the boom and then to the carriage 2i where they are made fast. The two drums are operated independently and are thrown into operation by means of separate friction clutches at one side of the drums these clutches being provided with operating levers which are mounted together for convenient operation by one man stationed on the platform. The means for controlling the operation of the drums 11 and 12 is unessential to the present invention, any of the common types of clutches, or those illustrated in my Patents Nos. 916,581 March 80 1909,1,027,493 May 28, 19l2.,-or 1,177,785 April l 1916, which comprise frictionally operated clutches and brakes, may be used if desired.

The present car is intended to be used with a locomotive and one or more cars which ma be loaded with ties, the cars being placed behind the operating car and the locomotive behind tie cars. it. sutlicient number of rails are loaded onto the operating car and ties on car to the rear of the rails and the operation is as follows.

The trolley carriage 21 is run back over the first following car and a bundle of ties is then picked up by winding cable 25 on drum 12; when the load has been lifted to a proper height brake Si is set on drum 12 and the friction released; the trolley is then run out by the operation of drum 11 and tie ties are lowered. and deposited by releasii the brake 81. on. drum 1%. at about the center oi the length of rail which is to be next laid. This means that no ties need be carried by hand turther than. one-ball oi? the rail length and the ties then dis tributed at proper intervals; in either direction from their point ct deposit. While this is being done by the crew on the ground the trolley arriage is again run back over the operating3; can (this being efiiected by revolvinn' drum it in the opposite direction) a rail is picked up and carried out and laid over the ties which by that time have been distributed by the crew. While this rail is being spiked to the ties the trolley carriage again runs back, another rail is lifted and fastened to the.

run out and laid on the ties and while this rail is being spiked the trolley carriage is run back onto the following car to pick up another load of ties for the neXt rail length. it will be noted that the cables are so arranged that the load may be carried in eitherv direction at a constant height without the slipping; or wearing of brakes or friction clutches.

jinother advantage of the present machine is that the rails may be supported by the trolley carriage while being fitted under the connecting tishplates which sometimes project out at a slight angle to the horizontal and in this way the laborious work 0 lifting the rails by hand to fit them into the connecting fishplates is entirely avoided. For this reason, and also because the movement of the ties is relatively slight in advance, the work of the crew is made very much easier, and the operations can be so timed to go forward in perfect sequence so that no portion of the crew is obliged to wait for materials at any stage of the oper-v ation.

In taking; up track the reverse of the foregoing operations is carried out, and the method of taking up track will be readily understood. the two rails being first loosened and carried back onto the operating; car, after which the ties are taken back and deposited on the following car.

The boom or trackway is of considerable length and must of course extend over the forward end of the operating car a distance a little greater han one-halt of a rail length, while-it. should extend over practically the entire length of the following car. This boom however, is so readily con-o structed and so "well mounted and braced upon the framework, and the framework is so constructed and adapted to the support of this boom. that no trouble is experiencedin loosenin' or swinging oi? the boom.-

In Figs. 4 and 5 a modified form of my apparatus is shown in which the framework and car are the same as in the other form which has previously been described. In this modified term. however, the trackway or boom 50 is pivotallx mounted about'an axis in the form of a short shaft or stud 51 which is disposed veiuically in the center of: the car and framework and on the platform 52 which corresponds with the platform 7 of the apparatus of Fig. 1. This trackway is provided with a transversely extending bar 53 which is mounted at right angles to the trackway at 'i ts center and forms an extended central portion of the trackway to which. are connected braces 54 which extend from intermediate points of the trackway oneither side of. the center. The trackway is additionally braced by means of guys '55 and 56 which also extend to the transverse bar 53 from points along the trackway.=

The trackway is braced vertically by means of rigid braces 57, 58 and 59, all of which are connected to a pivoted bracket 60 mounted at the upper end of the upper pyramidal framework 61 so that these braces 57, and 59 are pivoted about the same axis as the trackway, thatis,-an axis which is in vertical alignment with the shaft 51 upon which the tra'ckway swings.

Attached to the trackway on one side of its center is a link 62 connected to a crosshead (33 and piston 6d which is operated in the steam cylinder 65. This steam cylinder is a double-acting cylinder and steam isv admitted to either end of the cylinder through lines 66 and 67 which are controlled by means of a throttle 68. The steam cylin der and throttle are mounted on the platform 52 for convenient operation by the operator who is stationed there for the operation of the cable lining drums and which are constructed and connected in the same manner as in the form of apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

The purpose of this pivotal mounting for the trackway is to allow curves to be laid. The traekway extends a very considerable distance over either end of the car and rela tively small angular movement of the trackway brings the outer end of the trackway a considerable distance to either side of the line of the car and therefore allows ties and rails to be laid on any curvature that the cars can easily follow. In order. to swing the trackway the piston 64 is operated in the desired direction and the movement of the trackway is limited by means of resilient spring buffers 70. These buffers consist of fiat plates 71 which are mounted against and upon coiled spring 72 and four of them are so placed that they will be engaged by the two opposite ends of the bar 53 upon movement of the trackway in either direction.

The particular advantages of my improved laying apparatus are the simplicity and rigidity of the framework which, while having a very considerable base area which is vertically coextensive with the area of the car, is still very much smaller both at the level of the trackway andthereabove. In addition to this the trackway is rigidly braced and may be used to hoist its maximum load at the-end without causing any objectionable tilting of the car or racking of the fran'ieworki- The cable operating means are also extremely simple in'their arrangement and operation and the entire operation of the mechanism is conveniently controlled by a single operator on the platform, who has a clear view of all of the operations which are being-carried out. Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism hQIGiIl isclosed, pro" vided the means, stated by any of thefollowing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed. i 1

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a track laying apparatus, the combination of a car, parallel vertical frames mounted on opposite sides of said car, transverse braces connecting said frames at, the level of the floor of said car, horizontal transverse braces connecting said frames above the level of said car floor, and angular braces extending from the upper ends of said frames, said last named braces being connected together v cent-rally above said car, a trackway and movablefcarriage thereon, said trackway being mounted on said upper horizontal braces of said frames, an engine mounted on said frames and braces, and carmange-operating "cables extending from said carriage to the ends of'said trackway" and over the point of connection of said angular engine to actuatesaid carriage. Y

2. In a track laying apparatus. the conibination of a flat car, a substantially pyramidal open framework secured thereon, a platform mounted between the side members of said framework at a considerable, height above said ear, atrackway supported" by platform, said tra-ckway extendinglongi vso braces, said cables beingoperable by said tudinally over said car and beyond the ends I of the same.

y 3. In a tracklaying apparatus, the combination of a car, two upwardly extending frame members mounted along each side of said car, one member being adjacent each end thereof, said members being in the vertical'planes of the respective sides of the car, and all said frame members converginginwardly-from alevel above that of'the floor of said car and'being connected to- 1 gather centrally abovesaid car.

4. In a tracklaying apparatus, the combination of a car,'a framework thereon, said framework having a base area coextensive with that of said car but having side members inclined inwardly of said can a platform mounted in said framework above the level of said-car, said platform being of considerably less area than said car, and a trackway mounted beneath said platform and extending beyond car at eitherflend;

In a tracklaying apparatus'the combination of a car, a trackway and a framework supporting said trackway above said car, said framework having substantially only half the horizontal area of sa d car, at

the level at which said trackway'is' supported, and said trackway being more than twice the length of said car and extending beyon'd each end thereof. 6. In a tracklaying apparatus, the combination of a car, a framework thereon, an engine mounted on said framework, an elerated trackway pivotally mounted on said framework centrally above said car and said trackway extending on either side of such point of pivotal mounting, and means connecting saidengine and said traclrway, said means being adapted to effect swinging of said trackway by said engine.

7. In a t-racklaying apparatus, the combination of a car, a framework thereon, a rigid trackway pivotally mounted upon said framework about a vertical axis centrally disposed with respect to said car, and said trackway extending on either side of such point of pivotal mounting, a carriage movably mounted. on said trackway, cable operating means for said carriage, and means adapted to swing said traclrway in either direction.

8. In a traoklayingapparatus, the combination of a car, a framework thereon, a rigid trackway pivotally mounted upon said "framework about a vertical axis centrally disposed with respect to said car and said traclrway extending on either side of such point of pivotal mounting, an engine mounted on said framework, a carr' cge movably mounted upon said traclrway, traffic and hoisting cables connected to said carriage and operable from said engine, and means adapted to swing said traclzway in either direction.

'9. In a tracklaying apparatus, the combination of a car, a framework thereon, a platform mounted on said framework in an elevated position, an engine mounted on said platform, cable winding drums also on said platform, said drums being operable by said engine, a trackway pivotally mounted on said platform and said traclrway extending on either side of suchpoint of pivotal mounting, a carriage movably mounted on said trackway, traffic and hoisting cables connected to said carriage, said cables being wound upon said drums, and means being adapted to swing said traclzway in either di rection.

10. In a tracklaying apparatus, the combination of a car, a framework thereon, a rigid traclrway pivotally mounted upon said framework about a vertical centrally disposed with respect to said. car, said trachway extending on either side of such point of pivotal mounting", and means liinitiu the pivotal movement of said traclrway.

11. In a tracklaying apparatus, the combination of a car, a framework thereon, a rigid traclrway pivotally mounted upon said framework about a vertical. axis centrally disposed with respect to said car, said trackway extending on either side of such point ,of pivotal mounting. and resilient means mounted on said platform on either side of said trackway, said means being adapted to be engaged by said traclrway upon pivotal movement thereof, said means limiting the movement of said trackway. I

in a traclzlaying apparatus, the combination of-a car, a framework thereon, a rigid trackway pivotally mounted upon said framework about a vertical axis centrally disposed with respect to said car, said trackway extending on either side of such point of 1 ivotal mounting, a bar mounted, upon said traclrway at right angles thereto at the axis of said traclrway and spring buffers mounted to said bar upon pivotal movement of said traclrway, said buffers limiting; such movement thereof.

it I a traclrlaying.apparatus, the combination of a car, a framework thereon, a platform mounted on said framework in an elevated position, a rigid traclrway pivotally mounted on said platform about a vertical axis centrally disposed with respect to said car, said traclrway extending on either side of such point of pivotal mounting, said traclrway having a enlarged central portion, braces extending from points adjacent the ends of said trackway to said enlarged central portion, and means adapted to. swing said traclrway in either direction about its axis.

14. In a tracklaying apparatus, the combination of a car, a framework thereon, a platform mounted on said framework in an elevated position, a rigid trackway pivotally mounted on said platform about a. vertical centrally disposed with respect to said said. traclrwa-y extending'on either side of such point of pivotal mounting, braces for said traclrway extending upwardly from the ends thereof and being pivotally con nected to said framework at a point substantially in vertical alignment withthe of said traclrway.

in a tracklayingapparatus, the combination of a car, a framework thereon, a platform mounted on said framework in an elevated position, a rigid trackway pivotally mounted on said platform about avertical axis centrally disposed with respect to said car. said traclrway having an enlarged central. portion, braces extending from points ail iaeent the ends of said trackway tosaid enlarged central portion, said braces lying n the horizontal plane of said traclrway, other braces ends of said traclrway and being; pivotally conn cted to said framework at a pointsubstantially in vertical alignment with the {HMS of sai l trackway. 7

sued by me, this 8th day of October,

bli 1921 JOHN R. MoGIFFERT.. 

